From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 20): Escape, evasion tactics part of military training - AFP
There is nothing wrong with the decision of 1st Neven Canitan to evade the New People's Army (NPA) force who captured five of his unarmed men in Sitio Lubas, Barangay Paquibato, Paquibato District,Davao City
AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala issued this statement after the rebels called Canitan's action plain cowardice.
The latter and his men are members of the 10th Infantry Division's 60th Infantry Battalion.
"Soldiers, regardless of rank, are taught to escape if captured by enemy forces or evade them (if caught by superior forces)," he added.
The same doctrine is drilled into every soldier serving in almost all of the world's armed services.
In the British Army, soldiers are taught that even unsuccessful escape attempts can unbalance the enemy force as it forces the latter to double the number of guards assigned to secure prison facilities, hence cutting down the number of able-bodied combatants.
Zagala added that Canitan only followed his training when the latter decided to evade after finding something fishy about the rebel checkpoint that earlier accosted them.
The AFP public affairs chief also added that Canitan cannot also be accused of abandonment as no actual fighting took place.
"The incident involves unarmed peace and development team members. Their sole purpose was to help depressed communities in the areas they are assigned to. Their purpose is not for combat, hence 1st Lt. Canitan cannot be accused of abandonment," he pointed out.
This was also bore out by the instance that Canitan's men approached the rebel checkpoint to identify themselves and their mission.
Zagala also assured the families of the captured soldiers that they would do everything in their authority to safely recover the captured military personnel.
"It is our duty to them as personnel of the AFP," he stressed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=536328
There is nothing wrong with the decision of 1st Neven Canitan to evade the New People's Army (NPA) force who captured five of his unarmed men in Sitio Lubas, Barangay Paquibato, Paquibato District,
AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala issued this statement after the rebels called Canitan's action plain cowardice.
The latter and his men are members of the 10th Infantry Division's 60th Infantry Battalion.
"Soldiers, regardless of rank, are taught to escape if captured by enemy forces or evade them (if caught by superior forces)," he added.
The same doctrine is drilled into every soldier serving in almost all of the world's armed services.
In the British Army, soldiers are taught that even unsuccessful escape attempts can unbalance the enemy force as it forces the latter to double the number of guards assigned to secure prison facilities, hence cutting down the number of able-bodied combatants.
Zagala added that Canitan only followed his training when the latter decided to evade after finding something fishy about the rebel checkpoint that earlier accosted them.
The AFP public affairs chief also added that Canitan cannot also be accused of abandonment as no actual fighting took place.
"The incident involves unarmed peace and development team members. Their sole purpose was to help depressed communities in the areas they are assigned to. Their purpose is not for combat, hence 1st Lt. Canitan cannot be accused of abandonment," he pointed out.
This was also bore out by the instance that Canitan's men approached the rebel checkpoint to identify themselves and their mission.
Zagala also assured the families of the captured soldiers that they would do everything in their authority to safely recover the captured military personnel.
"It is our duty to them as personnel of the AFP," he stressed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=536328